Liquid container

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a liquid container which can be folded to be flat at its both sides. A spout member is integrally formed with the container, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs. A spouting guide member is also integrally formed with the container so that the user can easily drink the beverage through the spout member. As the container is foldable, the space occupied by the container can be reduced, thereby reducing the packaging costs and transportation costs. The container can be made of synthetic resin through a blowing process such that the part defining the spout member is harder than other portion. Folding lines are formed both sides of the container so that the container is folded along the folding lines. A projection extending along an inner surface of container functions as the spouting guide member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid container, and moreparticularly to a liquid container that is designed such that its mainbody is wide, thin and flexible so that it can be folded to be flat andreduced the capacity of the empty container.

[0002] Further, the present invention relates to a liquid container thatis designed to easily and conveniently dispense or drink the liquidcontained the liquid container without the straw.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] Generally, many kinds of beverage containers are used for aliquid beverage. The beverage container is composed of a cap and acontainer like a can (steel or aluminum can) or a plastic bottle (ex.PET bottle) and the user can open the cap and then suck the beveragewith a straw or drink it.

[0004] Since the above containers are rigid and occupy the same space asthe product, it is not convenient to transport them to the fillingfactory.

[0005] To solve the above problem, a spout pouch has been proposed whichis disclosed in Japan Utility Model Registration No. H02-21399(Aug. 6,1990). The spout pouch includes a spout and a flexible film container.The spout pouch is light and flexible.

[0006] However, the spout pouch is complex in structure and it isdifficult to manufacture the same.

[0007] Further, the spout pouch is convenient to drink the liquidbeverage through its spout but is not convenient to dispense the liquidbeverage into another container like a cup through the spout.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been made in an effort tosolve the problem. It is an objective of the present invention toprovide a liquid container that is designed such that its main body iswide, thin and flexible so that it can be folded to be flat and reducedthe capacity of the empty container.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquidcontainer that is designed to easily and conveniently dispense or drinkthe liquid contained the liquid container without the straw.

[0010] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides aliquid container comprising a main body in which contents are stored, aspout formed in the main body and spouting the contents out, a caphermetically coupled to the spout; and a folding guide means formed on asidewall or/and bottom of the main body and guided the main body to beflatly folded or unfolded when absorption force or outer pressure isapplied thereto.

[0011] The main body includes at least one wide width potion at itslateral portion and the wide width portion is flexible so that it can beflatly folded when absorption force is applied thereto. The wide widthportion is formed on one side or both sides of the main body. The widewidth portion is formed on a bottom of the main body.

[0012] The folding guide means is composed of a linear folding guideportion at a sidewall or/and bottom of the main body. The folding guidemeans is composed of a multi-stage folding guide portion at a sidewallor/and bottom of the main body. The folding guide means is made ofsynthetic resin so that the main body can be easily folded to be flat.

[0013] The liquid container further comprises a spouting guide meansformed on the main body. The spouting guide means includes a spoutingpassage inward or outward formed on a surface of the main body wall.

[0014] The spouting guide means includes a spouting passage formed by apredetermined space at a sidewall of the main body. The spouting guidemeans includes a long insert extended downward at the inside of the mainbody.

[0015] The liquid container further comprises an adherence preventingmeans formed in the main body. The adherence preventing means is formedof inward protrusions or/and grooved on the main body walls. Theadherence preventing means is formed of intaglio/embossing charactersand/or a figure on the main body walls. The adherence preventing meansincludes a long insert extended downward at the inside of the main body.

[0016] The main body is made of synthetic resin. The lower portion ofmain body is wider than the upper portion of the main body. Both ends ofthe bottom portion of the main body are hermetically adhered and sealed.

[0017] A foldable sealing support is sealed at the bottom of the mainbody. A cap engaged with a periphery of the spout and is provided withan opening identification skirt divided by a separating guide line. Thecap is integrally formed with the spout and the separating guide linelies between them. The cap further includes a knob formed at its upperportion: A bellows bending portion is formed at the spout.

[0018] The spout is provided with a hanging portion having a hanginggroove which is integrally formed with the main body and makes itpossible to easily and continuously supply the container to the fillingline facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of theinvention, and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention:

[0020] FIGS. 1 to 2 are perspective views and sectional views of aliquid container in a first embodiment according to the presentinvention;

[0021]FIG. 3 is perspective view of a liquid container according to thepresent invention;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a main body of theliquid container in a first embodiment according to the presentinvention;

[0023] FIGS. 5 to 8 are side views, a development view and sectional aview sectional view of a spouting guide means of a liquid container in afirst embodiment according to the present invention;

[0024]FIGS. 9 and 10 are a side view and a perspective view of aadherence prevention means of a liquid container in a first embodimentaccording to the present invention;

[0025]FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of a liquid container in asecond embodiment according to the present invention;

[0026]FIGS. 13 and 14 are a perspective view and a sectional view of aliquid container in a third embodiment according to the presentinvention;

[0027]FIGS. 15 and 16 are a perspective view and a sectional view of amain body of a liquid container in a third embodiment according to thepresent invention;

[0028]FIG. 17 is a front view of a spout of a liquid container in athird embodiment according to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a bottom of a main body of a liquidcontainer in a third embodiment according to the present invention;

[0030]FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views of a liquid container in afourth embodiment according to the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 21 is a sectional view of a liquid container according to anembodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0032] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] First Embodiment

[0034] FIGS. 1 to 3 shows a liquid container in a first embodimentaccording to the present invention.

[0035] As shown in figures, the liquid container of the presentinvention comprises a main body 100, a spout 200 through which the usercan drink or suck the liquid beverage in the container and dispense theliquid beverage into another container like a cup, and a cap 300 that isthreadedly coupled to the spout 200.

[0036] The main body 100 is designed such that it has broader width,thinner thickness and can be flatly folded in order to reduce theoccupied space thereby improving the treatment and convenience.

[0037] To accomplish the above object, the main body 100 is providedwith a folding guide means at its sidewall or/and bottom in order to beeasily folded. The folding guide means is for guiding the main body 100to be flat when absorption force or outer pressure is applied to themain body 100.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 100 can be provided with a widewidth portion 102 at its side. As the main body 100 is made of flexiblesynthetic resin, when absorption force or outer pressure is appliedthereto, the wide width portion 102 is folded to be flat as shown inFIG. 3. The wide width portion 102 can be designed such that each orboth sidewalls or bottom of the main body 102 has wide width.

[0039] Further, the folding guide means can be designed such that thewide width portion 102 is provided with a linear folding guide portion104 and 106(see FIG. 1). The linear folding guide portion 104 and 106 isa folding line formed at a sidewall or bottom of the main body 100 inorder to easily fold the wide width portion 102.

[0040] The linear folding guide portion 104 and 106 can be formed byfolding to be flat and pressing the main body 100 after forming the mainbody 100 by blow molding, direct blow molding or injection blow molding.Further, the linear folding guide portion 104 and 106 can be a smallgroove formed on the main body 100.

[0041] In case that the linear folding guide portion 104 and 106 isformed on both sidewall and bottom of the main body 100, it is preferredthat contact portion of the folding guide portion 104 and 106 isprovided with a oblique folding guide portion 108.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the folding guide means can be a multistage folding guide portion 110. The folding guide portion 110 can becomposed by forming plural folding guide portions 104 and 104′ at asidewall of the main body 100, forming plural folding guide portions 106at a bottom of the main body 100 and connecting them with plural “V”shaped folding guide portions 108.

[0043] When the folding guide portion 110 is a multi-stage foldingportion, the bottom of the main body 100 can be wide and the capacity ofthe container can be increased. Further, as the bottom of the main body100 is wider than the upper portion of the main body 100, it is stablein structure.

[0044] The present invention is provided with a spouting guide means foreasily dispensing the liquid beverage. The spouting guide means can bean outward spouting passage 112 formed on the surface of the main bodywall. Also, the spouting guide means can be an inward spouting passage112′ formed on the surface of the main body wall as shown in FIG. 7. Thespouting passages 112 and 112′ protect the main body walls from beingclosely contacted each other.

[0045] In another embodiment of the invention, the spouting guide meanscan be a long insert 114 formed in the main body 100 (see FIG. 4). Thelong insert 114 prevents front and rear plates of the main body 100 frombeing closely contacted and forms a predetermined space between thefront and rear plates so that the liquid of the container can be easilydispensed therefrom. To achieve the object, the long insert 114 extendsbelow the half of the main body 100. Also, the long insert can be pluralinsert.

[0046] Furthermore, the liquid container of the present inventionincludes an adherence preventing means for preventing front and rearplates of the main body 100 from being closely contacted so that theliquid of the container can be easily dispensed therefrom.

[0047] The adherence preventing means can be formed of inwardprotrusions 116 and/or grooves on the main body walls. The inwardprotrusions 116 and grooves can be placed as shown in FIG. 9.

[0048] In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.4, the adherence preventing means can be formed of a long insert 114,and also, as shown in FIG. 10, it can be formed of intaglio/embossingcharacters and/or a figure.

[0049] The spout 200 of the present invention is provided with a fluidpassage 202, on the around the passage 202, it is provided with threads204 and is formed with an engagement jaw 206 for engaging with anopening identification skirt 302 of the cap 300.

[0050] The cap 300 is provided at its inside with threads 304 andengages with a periphery of the spout 200. The bottom of the cap 300 isextended below the engagement jaw 206 of the spout 200 so that it coversaround the spout 200 thereby preventing pollution. The cap 300 isprovided at it bottom with an opening identification skirt 302 dividedby a separating guide line 306.

[0051] Now, the operation of the liquid container according to thepresent invention will be described below.

[0052] First, the user removes the cap 300. The cap 300 is removed bycounterclockwise rotating it and the opening identification skirt 302 isremoved from the cap 300.

[0053] As the user sucks the beverage in the container, the main body100 is folded to be flat as shown in FIG. 7.

[0054] The liquid container of the present invention is provided withthe spouting passages 112, 112′ and 112″ thereby easily dispensing thecontents of the container. Further, the liquid container of the presentinvention is provided with the adherence prevention means thereby moreeasily sucking and dispensing the contents of the container.

[0055] When the user wants to dispense the contents of the containerinto another container like a cup, the user just erects the container asshown in FIG. 3. At this point, the contents of the main body is easilydispensed through the fluid passage 202 of the spout 200.

[0056] Second Embodiment

[0057]FIGS. 11 and 12 show another embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] As shown in Figures, the liquid container of the presentinvention comprises a main body 100, a spout 200 protruded from the mainbody 100 upward, and a cap 300 hermetically engaged with the spout 200.

[0059] Detailed description of the spout 200 and the cap 300 is omittedas they are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0060] In this embodiment, the container body 100 is provided with awide width portion at its lower center and the wide width portion isprovided with multi-stage folding guide portion 110 as the folding guidemeans. The multi-stage folding guide portion 110 includes at least twosingle-stage folding guide portions 106.

[0061] Further, in this embodiment of the present invention, thesingle-stage folding guide portion 104″ is formed on a sidewall of themain body 100. As a result, if the main body 100 is laterally cut, thesection of the main body 100 will be shaped of an ellipse.

[0062] This main body 100 can be manufactured by a method like a directblow molding or an injection blow molding and is provided at its bottomwith a wide width portion. It is heat pressed so that the single foldingguide portion 104″ and the multi-stage folding guide portion 110 areformed at its side and bottom respectively.

[0063] The spouting guide means is vertically formed at a center of thefront or rear plate of the main body 100. As the same as the firstembodiment, the spouting guide means can be an inward spouting passage112′ or an outward spouting passage.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 12, the spouting guide means can be a spoutingpassage of an elliptic space.

[0065] Third Embodiment

[0066]FIGS. 13 and 14 show another embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] As shown in Figures, the liquid container of the presentinvention comprises a main body 100, a spout 200 protruded from the mainbody 100 upward, and a cap 300′ that is integrally and hermeticallymolded with the spout 200.

[0068] The cap 300′ is designed such that it is provided with a separateguide line 312 at a border between the spout 200 and it so that it canbe separated therefrom when it is needed. There are an inner cap 314 anda knob 316 at its upper portion.

[0069] The outer diameter of the inner cap 314 is same as or slighterlarger than the inner diameter of the spout 200. This is for resealingthe spout 200 when it is needed.

[0070] In this embodiment, the main body 100 is open at its bottomportion, and it is closed by heat-sealing a foldable sealing support120. This structure of the main body 100 makes it easy to filling thecontents inside. The foldable sealing support 120 is sealed afterfilling. The folding guide portion 106 is formed at a center of thefoldable sealing support 120.

[0071] The main body 100 of this embodiment is provided with an longinsert 114′ downwardly protruded from the upper surface of the main body100. The long insert 114′ prevents the front and rear plates of the mainbody 100 from being closely contacted and forming a space between thefront and rear plates of the main body 100 when folded to be flatthereby easily dispensing the contents of the container. To achieve theobject, two long inserts 114′ are disposed in the main body 100.

[0072]FIGS. 15 and 16 show another embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, and the single folding guide portions 104″ areformed at each side of the main body 100. At the bottom of the main body100, a foldable sealing support 120 is sealed. A downward foldablefolding guide portion 106′ is formed at the foldable sealing portion120.

[0073]FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the spout 200 applied to thepresent invention. The spout 200 is disposed at the upper portion of themain body in state of leaning leftward or rightward. This is for easilysucking the beverage.

[0074]FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of the bottom of the main body100. It is designed such that both bottom ends of the main body 100 isdirectly sealed.

[0075] Fourth Embodiment

[0076]FIGS. 19 and 20 shows another embodiment of the liquid containeraccording to the present invention.

[0077] As shown in Figures, the liquid container of the presentinvention comprises a main body 100, a spout 200 protruded from the mainbody 100 upward, and a cap (not shown) coupled with the spout 200.

[0078] As the same as above embodiments, the main body 100 is providedwith folding guide portions 104 and 104″ at its sidewall or/and bottomsurface. Further, the main body 100 is provided with a spouting passage112′ at its front or rear plate.

[0079] In this embodiment, the liquid container includes a bellowsbending portion 208 for folding or unfolding the spout 200.

[0080]FIG. 21 shows a liquid container provided with a hanging portion Hhaving a hanging groove. The hanging portion H is integrally formed withthe main body 100 and makes it possible to easily and continuouslysupply the container to the filling line facility.

[0081] While this invention has been described in connection with whatis presently considered to be the most practical and referredembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to covervarious modifications and equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A liquid container comprising: a main body in which contents arestored; a spout formed in the main body and spouting the contents out; acap hermetically coupled to the spout; and a folding guide means formedon a sidewall or/and bottom of the main body and guided the main body tobe flatly folded or unfolded when absorption force or outer pressure isapplied thereto.
 2. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe main body includes at least one wide width potion at its lateralportion and the wide width portion is flexible so that it can be flatlyfolded when absorption force is applied thereto.
 3. A liquid containeras claimed in claim 2, wherein the wide width portion is formed on oneside or both sides of the main body.
 4. A liquid container as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the wide width portion is formed on a bottom of themain body.
 5. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, the foldingguide means is composed of a linear folding guide portion at a sidewallor/and bottom of the main body.
 6. A liquid container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the folding guide means is composed of a multi-stagefolding guide portion at a sidewall or/and bottom of the main body.
 7. Aliquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding guide meansis made of synthetic resin so that the main body can be easily folded tobe flat.
 8. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, the liquidcontainer further comprises a spouting guide means formed on the mainbody.
 9. A liquid container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spoutingguide means includes a spouting passage inward or outward formed on asurface of the main body wall.
 10. A liquid container as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the spouting guide means includes a spouting passageformed by a predetermined space at a sidewall of the main body.
 11. Aliquid container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spouting guide meansincludes a long insert extended downward at the inside of the main body.12. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquidcontainer further comprises an adherence preventing means formed in themain body.
 13. A liquid container as claimed in claim 12, wherein theadherence preventing means is formed of inward protrusions or/andgrooved on the main body walls.
 14. A liquid container as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the adherence preventing means is formed ofintaglio/embossing characters and/or a figure on the main body walls.15. A liquid container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the adherencepreventing means includes a long insert extended downward at the insideof the main body.
 16. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe main body is made of synthetic resin.
 17. A liquid container asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the lower portion of main body is wider thanthe upper portion of the main body.
 18. A liquid container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein both ends of the bottom portion of the main body arehermetically adhered and sealed.
 19. A liquid container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a foldable sealing support is sealed at the bottom ofthe main body.
 20. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein acap engaged with a periphery of the spout and is provided with anopening identification skirt divided by a separating guide line.
 21. Aliquid container as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cap is integrallyformed with the spout and the separating guide line lies between them.22. A liquid container as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cap furtherincludes a knob formed at its upper portion.
 23. A liquid container asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a bellows bending portion is formed at thespout.
 24. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spoutis provided with a hanging portion having a hanging groove which isintegrally formed with the main body and makes it possible to easily andcontinuously supply the container to the filling line facility.